Finished We 4/20/16 Marijuana Day
This is the first in the trilogy and I got it from the library. The second book was in my collection, but the final episode is not owned by me or the library. I might get it from Amazon.
Link to wikipedia-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Game
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
THE GREAT SANTINI by Pat Conroy
Finished Th 4/14/16
The author died a few weeks ago and I noticed this paperback on one of my shelves.
The novel is less plot driven but more a series of very insightful vignettes.
Well written and I loved the book. The movie is highly rated (I know I must have seen it) and it's in the Netflix queue.
link to wikipedia-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Santini_(novel)
Pat Conroy's link at wikipedia-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Conroy
The author died a few weeks ago and I noticed this paperback on one of my shelves.
The novel is less plot driven but more a series of very insightful vignettes.
Well written and I loved the book. The movie is highly rated (I know I must have seen it) and it's in the Netflix queue.
link to wikipedia-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Santini_(novel)
Pat Conroy's link at wikipedia-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Conroy
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
MEXICO SET by Len Deighton
Finished We 4/6/16 after $35 visit from Dick Van Dyke to unlock the rangetop.
This was one of my unread paperbacks and similar to the tone of the 'John Le Carre Spy World', and, obviously the very antithesis of the world of James Bond.
Samson is a government employee looking for a career and a pension who just happens to be the cleverest person working in British intelligence. (That's what a reviewer wrote of Samson, and I'd say that's pretty accurate).
From Amazon-
"When they spotted Erich Stinnes in Mexico City, it was obvious that Bernard Samson was the right man to ‘enrol’ him. With his domestic life a shambles and his career heading towards disaster, Bernard needed to prove his reliability. and he knew Stinnes already - Bernard had been interrogated by him in East Berlin.
But Bernard risks being entangled in a lethal web of old loyalties and old betrayals.
All he knows for sure is that he has to get Erich Stinnes for London".
This is the second in the Bernard Samson trilogy (BERLIN GAME, MEXICO SET, LONDON MATCH). In the first book, Samson's wife has defected to Russia and becomes one of the highest ranking members of their intelligence operation. They have two young children and she left them behind when she fled.
Erich Stinnes is a KGB major and Bernard's opposite number in the west. Erich is run by Samson's wife, Fiona- he's her second in command.
From a review on Amazon that sums up the plot-
"Samson, a professional MI-6 field operative, is devastated by the defection of his wife, Fiona, to the other side. Read KGB. Read the evil empire. To all that ask him 'if he still loves her' he denies he does. But Mr. Deighton leaves any number of clues for his readers to make us know that at best, it's just false bravado.
Handicapped somewhat emotionally by the strain of realizing that their whole marriage, the children, the shared experiences was but a stage she played upon, Bernard must also face the onslaught of accusatory hearings from his employers at London Central, the 'desk men' lacking any field experience where hard men do the hard things that he hates so much.
We see the old characters Frank Harrington, the Iago-like Dicky, the self serving Bret Rensselaer, and his close friend for life Werner Volkmann and Volkmann's straying wife, Zena.
Deighton's humor is subtle and droll. When faced with a dilemma Dicky says "Muy BLOODY complicado," Bernard thinks 'that's only because he doesn't understand.'
Blood is spilt, sometimes innocent blood, sometimes not so innocent. Bernard is loyal, confused, older, tripped up by forces that should be aiding him but who have their own agendas. Erich Stinnes, the KGB officer who interrogated him in East Berlin says to him, "I hate deskmen." Samson replies "Me too. They're bloody dangerous."
Excellent read about the life and death struggles of the alphabet agencies of the 70's and 80's. You don't have to read Berlin Game first but it helps".
I really enjoyed the novel and I will probably buy BERLIN GAME.
Author's page at wikipedia-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len_Deighton
This was one of my unread paperbacks and similar to the tone of the 'John Le Carre Spy World', and, obviously the very antithesis of the world of James Bond.
Samson is a government employee looking for a career and a pension who just happens to be the cleverest person working in British intelligence. (That's what a reviewer wrote of Samson, and I'd say that's pretty accurate).
From Amazon-
"When they spotted Erich Stinnes in Mexico City, it was obvious that Bernard Samson was the right man to ‘enrol’ him. With his domestic life a shambles and his career heading towards disaster, Bernard needed to prove his reliability. and he knew Stinnes already - Bernard had been interrogated by him in East Berlin.
But Bernard risks being entangled in a lethal web of old loyalties and old betrayals.
All he knows for sure is that he has to get Erich Stinnes for London".
This is the second in the Bernard Samson trilogy (BERLIN GAME, MEXICO SET, LONDON MATCH). In the first book, Samson's wife has defected to Russia and becomes one of the highest ranking members of their intelligence operation. They have two young children and she left them behind when she fled.
Erich Stinnes is a KGB major and Bernard's opposite number in the west. Erich is run by Samson's wife, Fiona- he's her second in command.
From a review on Amazon that sums up the plot-
"Samson, a professional MI-6 field operative, is devastated by the defection of his wife, Fiona, to the other side. Read KGB. Read the evil empire. To all that ask him 'if he still loves her' he denies he does. But Mr. Deighton leaves any number of clues for his readers to make us know that at best, it's just false bravado.
Handicapped somewhat emotionally by the strain of realizing that their whole marriage, the children, the shared experiences was but a stage she played upon, Bernard must also face the onslaught of accusatory hearings from his employers at London Central, the 'desk men' lacking any field experience where hard men do the hard things that he hates so much.
We see the old characters Frank Harrington, the Iago-like Dicky, the self serving Bret Rensselaer, and his close friend for life Werner Volkmann and Volkmann's straying wife, Zena.
Deighton's humor is subtle and droll. When faced with a dilemma Dicky says "Muy BLOODY complicado," Bernard thinks 'that's only because he doesn't understand.'
Blood is spilt, sometimes innocent blood, sometimes not so innocent. Bernard is loyal, confused, older, tripped up by forces that should be aiding him but who have their own agendas. Erich Stinnes, the KGB officer who interrogated him in East Berlin says to him, "I hate deskmen." Samson replies "Me too. They're bloody dangerous."
Excellent read about the life and death struggles of the alphabet agencies of the 70's and 80's. You don't have to read Berlin Game first but it helps".
I really enjoyed the novel and I will probably buy BERLIN GAME.
Author's page at wikipedia-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len_Deighton
Saturday, April 2, 2016
GONE WITH THE MIND by Mark Leyner
Finished With It- Sa 4/2/16
I started this about ten days ago, and reluctantly struggled to the end. I had it on reserve for a very long time, and the reviews with ecstatic.....but I was massively unimpressed.
The setup is that the author and his mother are at a book reading in a shopping center.
"... theoretically reading from his autobiography in the empty food court of a mall deserted because of flash-flood warnings. The only audience members are his mother and two restaurant workers who insist they’re not there to listen to Leyner — not that they have much choice".
His mother's name is Muriel, and she's
"Coordinating Director of the NonFiction at the Food Court Reading Services at Wood Creek Plaza Mall".
Two Panda Express workers are on a smoke break and barely pay any attention to what Mark Leyner or his mother have to say. I agree with the Panda Express employees.
The book’s main surreal touch is the Imaginary Intern, a figure the fictional Leyner conjures from the pattern of cracks in a restroom’s floor tiles.
Odd flights of fancy and supposed insight that really didn't interest me.
I don't understand what all of the media raves were about. I didn't like it much at all.
Link at amazon-
http://www.amazon.com/Gone-Mind-Mark-Leyner/dp/031632325X
Chicago Tribune Review (and, I don't think they were that wile about it either)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/books/ct-prj-gone-with-the-mind-mark-leyner-20160309-story.html
NY Times review-
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/27/books/review/gone-with-the-mind-by-mark-leyner.html?_r=0
I started this about ten days ago, and reluctantly struggled to the end. I had it on reserve for a very long time, and the reviews with ecstatic.....but I was massively unimpressed.
The setup is that the author and his mother are at a book reading in a shopping center.
His mother's name is Muriel, and she's
"Coordinating Director of the NonFiction at the Food Court Reading Services at Wood Creek Plaza Mall".
Two Panda Express workers are on a smoke break and barely pay any attention to what Mark Leyner or his mother have to say. I agree with the Panda Express employees.
The book’s main surreal touch is the Imaginary Intern, a figure the fictional Leyner conjures from the pattern of cracks in a restroom’s floor tiles.
Odd flights of fancy and supposed insight that really didn't interest me.
I don't understand what all of the media raves were about. I didn't like it much at all.
Link at amazon-
http://www.amazon.com/Gone-Mind-Mark-Leyner/dp/031632325X
Chicago Tribune Review (and, I don't think they were that wile about it either)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/books/ct-prj-gone-with-the-mind-mark-leyner-20160309-story.html
NY Times review-
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/27/books/review/gone-with-the-mind-by-mark-leyner.html?_r=0
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
LIGHTNING ON THE SUN by Robert Bingham
Finished Tu 3/29/16 This was one of my books and I first competed it Sa 1/5/02. At the time I wrote in the flyleaf that it would make a fine film. I still agree.
A nice slice of Noir.
Set in Phnom Penh, Cambodia during the early 1990's.
Asher had worked at UNESCO (managing the removal of bat shit from The National Museum) and wants to leave Asia, but he wants to leave rich. He buys a large quantity of heroin with his ex girlfriend, Julie. She's a bartender at a strip club in Manhattan. She has her boss (who she hates) finance the deal, and then she stiffs him.
Reese is a journalist and and a tennis partner of Asher in Cambodia. He has him take the heroin back to the states as part of Reese's mail drop. He tells Reese that the package is a screen play that he is writing.
When the heroin arrives in New York, Glen's gang tries to steal back the money that Julie has made on the sale of the heroin. Julie, Reese, and Weatherly, a friend of Reese, are attacked by hoods of Glen at Weatherly's Manhattan apartment. They kill one of the hoods, but they are able to claim that they were random victims of robbery and they were only acting in self defense. The police believe them.
Asher had to borrow money from his Cambodian landlord, Hawk and he wires Julie that he really needs money. She decides to come to his rescue. She delivers the money and Asher pays Hawk, but Hawk didn't think he would pay and the main crook, Hang Boonma. This man was on the plane with Julie and he and her struck up an acquaintance. She thought he was a pig of a man.
Although Asher paid his debt, Boonma and Hawk want to send a message to the people who don't pay, and decide to have Asher kidnapped. As Julie and Asher take the train to the Cambodian seaside the train is attacked and they are kidnapped with a Danish missionary.
Reese comes back after his adventures with Julie and the wedding of his sister in Maine and convinces the bank to withdraw Asher's money so that the ransom can be paid.
There is only enough money for one of them. Julie is released, and Asher and the missionary are killed.
"Sorry, I'd prefer to stand" are Archer's last words just before he is fatally hit on the back of the head with the hoe that he has just used to dig his own grave.
Page at wikipedia-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_on_the_Sun
The author's page at wikipedia-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Bingham_(writer)
THE DRIFT by John Ridley
Finished Fr 3/25/16. This is one of my novels, and I had read it and finished it on Sa 6/14/03. That was the day of the library book sale.
Charles Harmon- (Uppity Nigger Charlie/Brain Nigger Charlie) Black lawyer who left his pregnant wife to 'ride the rails'. Terrified of the responsibilities of commitment. This is what he refers to as 'the drift'.
Chocolate Walt, another Black hobo, asked Charlie to find his niece, Corina.
She has left her life to ride the rails on 'the upper line' (Northwest, Seattle/Spokane area)
LIQUID EVIL and BUZZ CUT GIRL are two hoodlums that Charlie encounters. They are working for the pimp/gangster, Kessler. He looks like the early Peter Frampton.
'George Plimpton' is the name of the walking stick/weapon that Charlie carries. This apparatus is a character in the novel and communicates with Charlie.
FTRA- Freight Train Riders of America
NLR- Nazi Low Riders These are the two gangs that rule the tracks.
A pair of serial killers are on the loose killing hobos at random. But it is believed to be an hispanic and a racially mixed man. It is Guillermo and Corina. Corina is doing the killing and making it look like the intellectually challenged Guillermo is the real Bad Guy. Men who come on to Corina will die by the blade.
A railroad detective, Haxton, befriends Charlie and helps him get to the bottom of the case.
Charlie kills Corina. Haxton shows up and seems to be the Bad Guy and tries to kill Cornina. He knows whats going on, and finally Charlie picks up on it. Charlie kills Corina. George Plimpton is broken.
In the end, Charlie gets 'Hope'. Might go back to his relationship, or not.
Link at amazon-
http://www.amazon.com/The-Drift-John-Ridley/dp/0345443489
author's page at wikipedia-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ridley
Charles Harmon- (Uppity Nigger Charlie/Brain Nigger Charlie) Black lawyer who left his pregnant wife to 'ride the rails'. Terrified of the responsibilities of commitment. This is what he refers to as 'the drift'.
Chocolate Walt, another Black hobo, asked Charlie to find his niece, Corina.
She has left her life to ride the rails on 'the upper line' (Northwest, Seattle/Spokane area)
LIQUID EVIL and BUZZ CUT GIRL are two hoodlums that Charlie encounters. They are working for the pimp/gangster, Kessler. He looks like the early Peter Frampton.
'George Plimpton' is the name of the walking stick/weapon that Charlie carries. This apparatus is a character in the novel and communicates with Charlie.
FTRA- Freight Train Riders of America
NLR- Nazi Low Riders These are the two gangs that rule the tracks.
A pair of serial killers are on the loose killing hobos at random. But it is believed to be an hispanic and a racially mixed man. It is Guillermo and Corina. Corina is doing the killing and making it look like the intellectually challenged Guillermo is the real Bad Guy. Men who come on to Corina will die by the blade.
A railroad detective, Haxton, befriends Charlie and helps him get to the bottom of the case.
Charlie kills Corina. Haxton shows up and seems to be the Bad Guy and tries to kill Cornina. He knows whats going on, and finally Charlie picks up on it. Charlie kills Corina. George Plimpton is broken.
In the end, Charlie gets 'Hope'. Might go back to his relationship, or not.
Link at amazon-
http://www.amazon.com/The-Drift-John-Ridley/dp/0345443489
author's page at wikipedia-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ridley
THE BURGESS BOYS by Elizabeth Strout
March 2016 selection Contemporary Book Club (We 3/23/16)
I liked this one more than I thought I would, and most of the members agreed.
Bob and Susan are twins. Jim is their elder brother. When Jim was eight and the twins four, they were left alone in the family automobile, and the car backed up and killed their father. It was believed that Bob was at the wheel, but nearly forty years later, Jim confesses that he was really in the driver's seat.
This incident forever warps the emotional lives of the entire family.
Refugees from Somalia are trying to live in the small Maine town of Shirley Falls. This is the dominant sub-theme of the novel.
Zachary, nineteen year old son of Susan, is arrested for throwing the head of a pig into the Somali mosque. Jim and Bob are lawyers and try to handle the case. Jim is well known for his defense of a popular soul singer, and Bob is working in the government sector, and is nowhere near as successful.
Customer reviews at Amazon-
http://www.amazon.com/The-Burgess-Boys-A-Novel/product-reviews/1400067685
Link at wikipedia-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Burgess_Boys
I liked this one more than I thought I would, and most of the members agreed.
Bob and Susan are twins. Jim is their elder brother. When Jim was eight and the twins four, they were left alone in the family automobile, and the car backed up and killed their father. It was believed that Bob was at the wheel, but nearly forty years later, Jim confesses that he was really in the driver's seat.
This incident forever warps the emotional lives of the entire family.
Refugees from Somalia are trying to live in the small Maine town of Shirley Falls. This is the dominant sub-theme of the novel.
Zachary, nineteen year old son of Susan, is arrested for throwing the head of a pig into the Somali mosque. Jim and Bob are lawyers and try to handle the case. Jim is well known for his defense of a popular soul singer, and Bob is working in the government sector, and is nowhere near as successful.
Customer reviews at Amazon-
http://www.amazon.com/The-Burgess-Boys-A-Novel/product-reviews/1400067685
Link at wikipedia-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Burgess_Boys
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